Tree easel



July 12, 1949. H. 1.. JOHNSON TREE EASEL Filed April 25, 1947' INVENTOR.

' fihmzd Z Tfo W o Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETREE EASEL Harold L. Johnson, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 25, 1947, Serial No. 743,877

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an easel for artists, engineers, fieldpersonnel, or for any other individuals including picnickers who findneed for a device which is capable of attachment to a tree, post, orother similar protuberance for the purpose of supporting a sketchingboard or other suitable table means particularly in places where theterrain is such as to make the support of any other type of easelimpractical and entirely out of the question.

It is therefore, one of the main objects of the present invention toprovide a simple and practical easel which is capable of being attachedto a tree, post, or other convenient upright and which easel can supporta sketching board or suitable table means in a horizontal relation withrespect to the ground or at various selected angular positions withrespect to the ground depending upon the purpose and conditions of useof such a. board or table means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easel of thistype which for all intents and purposes may be referred to as a treeeasel which is designed of two main interchangeable assemblies whichtogether function to engage opposite sides of a tree or the like andwherein the parts are instantly capable of disassembly after use to becompactly arranged into a relatively small diameter bundle, or into abundle of small girth but having an overall length which is no greaterthan the lengths of the longest pieces that form the parts of this treeeasel.

This easel is arranged for including at least one or more braces whichterminate in prongs that are adapted for sturdy and penetrating contactwith the tree or other object to which the ease] is attached.

This easel further provides means forming protect-ive elements which actto shield the pointed ends of the braces when disposed in carryingposition. As a further object, these shielding members also providepositioning members for the purpose of holding the sketching board orother supported table means in place upon the main supporting bars orrods provided for this purpose.

There are other details of construction and advantageous featuresinherent in the tree easel of this invention. All such other detailstogether with further objects and advantages relating to the device ofthe present invention shall hereinafter appear in the following detaileddescription having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification.

In the drawings:

' "Fig. 1 is the general perspective view of the tree easel as the samewould appear in use and attached in operative position to a. treesupporting a suitable sketching board;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the arrangement to better portray certaindetails of construction and to show a true relationship of the variouselements of the easel when attached in one position to a, tree;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the unitary assemblies of thebracing and supporting members of the tree easel with the prong bracedisposed adjacent the supporting rod and portably arranged;

Fig. 4 is a small diagrammatic view of the parts of the tree easel shownin clustered position which would represent the carrying position of theeasel;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a board structure composed of a plurality ofslats tied together with flexible fastenings or bindings to permit suchboard to be rolled to further portray a collapsible arrangement togetherwith the easel structure proper wherein the entire unit can be rolledinto the board and secured or otherwise placed into a bag provided forcarrying such an easel and its associated support or board; and

Fig. 6 shows a modified brace provided with a hook to engage'the tree toform a suspension arrangement to stabilize the easel parts.

The general construction of the easel as best depicted in the Fig. 1illustration comprises a pair of clamp rods l and 2 each carryingadjustable and slidable clips 3-4 and 5-6 respectively. These clamp barsor rods 1 and 2 are adapted for engaging opposite side portions of thetree which is diagrammatically illustrated at I, and such rods can bebrought into tight and frictional engagement with respect to the tree Iby means of the cross ties 8 and 9 when adjustably tensioned between therods. I

Such cross ties 8 and 9 may be made of cords, woven materials, flexiblewires, or preferably suitable link chains, such ties as chains beingillustrated in the drawings and generally indicated by the referencenumerals 8 and 9. For the sake of uniformity, each of the rods l and 2carry a fixed pin, screw, or other attachment at one end to secure thechain to such rod, and each rod carries a hook or pin for releasablyholding the chain which would come from the other'rod of the set.

As seen in Fig. 1,-the chain 8 is secured by means of a nail or screw Into the near end of the rod 2 while the rod l carries a pin or hookdetent ll over which-one of the links of the chain 8 may be passed toproperly tension the forward and free ends of the rods I and 2. Thearrangement at the other end of the rods is identical excepting that inthe construction shown, rod I carries a fixed nail or screw I2 securingthe chain 9 to such rod while the other end of .the rod 2 carries a pinor hook I3 over which one of the links of the chain 9 may be passed toobtain the proper spacing and tensioning of these ends of the rods Iand-2 in attaching such rods to the opposite sides of the tree.

It is to be understood that the exact angle or the common plane passingthrough both of the rods I and 2 with respect to the perpendicular axisof the tree can be adjusted by the individual when attaching such rodsto the tree by means of the cross ties 8 and 9. The rods I and 2 may bedisposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tree andsubstantially parallel to the normal horizontal surface of the ground,or else such rods may be tiite'd into a common plane having angular,disposition with respect to the axis of the tree and also with respectto the nor m'al horizontal surface of the ground. If the rods I and 2are made of a reasonably sprin-gy hard wood such asdowel rods, it may bepreferable to increase the tension of these units so that the, rods willpartially bow inwardly from each of the sides of the tree engaged bysuch rods. By referring to Fig. 2, it should be noted that theparticular angles with which the rods I and "2 engage the side portionsof the tree 1 may be varied to suit the individual and also to suit theparticular occasion or condition of use.

The Fig. 2 arrangement is very much the same as the Fig. 1 position ofthe easel and it is shown that here the rear cross tie 9 is relativelyshort placing the ends of the rods I, and 2 fairlyclose together "atthis location. The forward and outwardly projecting ends :of the'rodsare considerably spread apart througli thisparticular selection ofattachment so that the cross tie 8 forms a much greater span and alsoacts to further introduce the necessary tautness between the outer freeends'of the rods-I and-2 to firmly cause such rods. to frictionallyclamp the sides 'of the tree "I. If the rods I and? are made 'ofrelatively stiff tubing such as aluminum or fairly light steel, suchparts would apparently remain fairly rigid and substantially straight asshown in the full lines in Fig. 2. However, if other materials are usedfor the rods I and 2. such as hard wood dowels, it is possible that theforward or longer endportions thereof may bow inwardly into thepositions illustrated by the jdotted lines in Fig. 2 to "obtain asomewhat different frictional contact engagement with the tree which isequally efiective as in the other less flexible constructions regardlessof theparticularselect'ron of materials used for the rods I and.2.

In order to stabilize the particular positions of the rods I and'2, eachof these rods I and "2 swingably carries a brace F4 and 'I 5,'an'd"eachof the "braces terminate in-prong "points It and !'l respectively. Suchpoints "are usedfor the purpose of engaging and penetrating surfaceportions of the supporting member such as the tree Ito form as'tabilizingsupport'or brace For each of the rods *Ian'd 2"toiiir thepositions of such rods at points remote from the tree andobvicuslyoutwardly therefrom.

It should be understood that the rods '1 and 2, as drawn together by thecross ties =8 and 9, no form fulcrum clamp means to prevent ver ticaborgeneral up anddown displacement of the rods at their points of contactwith the tree I. The stabilizing means however will support such rods atpoints remote from the tree to prevent rocking movement of such rods attheir points of frictional contact with the tree and such means willalso counteract girth movement of such rods.

Each of the prong braces I4 and I5 are pivotally carried at I8 and I9respectively on suitable ears which form integral or otherwise securedparts of the sleeves 20 and 2| which are slideably supported upon theirrods I and 2 respectively. The sleeves 20 and 2| can also rotate uponthe rods as well as move lengthwise thereof and may be adjusted to suchtightness as to normally remain in certain adjusted positions asselected by the user of the easel in setting up this unit. However, itmay be preferable to provide each of these sleeves with the suitable setscrew or other self operated detent. Manually operable screws 22 and 23are illustrated to better insure a fixed relationship during the setupand use of this tree easel. The object of the connection of the braceswith the rods is to provide swingable stabilizing means easily adjustedto engage the tre and to fixedly support the rods at points remote fromthe tree. A radially inwardly sprung split sleeve could also be used inplace of sleeves 20 and '2I to eliminatethe use of independent securingmeans.

Such set screws or other detent means are best located radially withrespect to the normal setup of this brace and rod combination and inpositions wherein these screws will not extend in the direction 0f thesupporting planes of the rods 1 and 2 so as to not interfere with theproper sup- .port of a suitable sketch board such as indicated at :24which is placed to rest upon the rods I and '2. Such-a board 24 isconfined between the adjusted positions of the clips 3, 4, 5 and 6 whichwill normally hold the board in position. Although the clips 3 to 6inclusive are shown with their two free ends extending upwardly, it isalso possible to revolve such clips over into horizontal positionswherein thesame will be disposed substantially flush with the topsurface of the board .24. Such clips may also be revolved degrees topresent the rounded and curved per-- tions thereof in the upwarddirection and in a position to make the same more convenient to the userwith respect to clearance and comfort purposes.

It should be noticed that each of the clips is provided with two alignedopenings 25 and 26 formed in the upstanding spring legs 21 and 2-8, andalso that the inwardly positioned leg is provided with .a turtheropening 29 which is used for the purpose of receiving the prong point H5.of the brace It when the same is put ill'fOldEd and collapsed positionas shown in Fig. 3. Here the same is illustrated as being folded throughthe proper rotation and manipulation of the :sleeve20 so that the bracehas its prong I6 posittiohedthrough the hole 29 of 'leg 28 in the clipd-to'be shielded by the solid upstanding leg 21 of such :clip. When therespective parts are so positioned the clip 3 then can be moved againstthe sleeve 20 in the direction of the arrow a. -in Fig. '3 to preventnormal withdrawal of the prong 'I B from the adjacent protecting clip aswill be obvious from the drawings. Tightening of the screw .22 of sleeve2owould have the same locking effect to hold the parts in transportablerelation.

The other half of the easel assembly can be folded and positioned in asimilar "manneraand the entire two assembliesv :canbe placed. sidezibyside as illustrated in Fig. 4. to be tied together by the use of thechains of the cross ties 8 and 9 by wrapping the latter around suchcluster assembly of the parts of the easel.

Instead of using a solid board such as 24, it is also contemplated touse a multiple slat board such as 30 comprising a plurality of slats 3isuitably tied together by flexible stitching or other flexible tie means32, 33 and 34 which will permit this board to be rolled into acylindrical form placed about the cluster illustrated in Fig. 4. Whensuch a board 30 is to be used the same can be unrolled and placed acrossthe rods l and 2 when the latter are secured to the tree or othersupport with the slats 3| extending substantially in the same directionas the lengthwise dimension of the board 2 3 with each slat supportedupon both of the rods i and 2.

Although the braces l4 and I5 have been shown as extending downwardlyfrom the rods I and 2 and having prong ends for penetrating the treesurface to provide necessary stabilization members, it is also possibleto provide the same with hooks 35 such as shown in Fig. 6 to suspend thebraces from an upper portion of the tree with the sleeves 20 and 2|supporting the rods l and 2 from this position. For all intents andpurposes the relationship shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the braces arepreferred and most feasible for most conditions of use. But where thebraces do not interfere with the actual use intended they may be of thehook kind to suspend the table means by stabilizing the rods 1 and 2 inthis fashion.

Another feature to which attention is directed is that the braces ofeach assembly as shown in Fig. 3 may be used to support either end ofthe rod 1 by shifting the sleeve 20 accordingly. Each clip 3 and 4 isthe same with the exception that such clips are merely reversed upon rodI.

The clips 3 to 6 inclusive are all identical and of springy U-shapedconstruction where the spreading tendency of the legs 27 and 28 causes abinding grip of rod 1 or rod 2. Pinching the ends of the clip legstogether will permit such clips to be adjusted along the lengths of therods or allow the removal thereof from such rods if desired.

Changes in the exact form, shape of the parts, or in the combination ofelements is contemplated, as well as the substitution of equivalentmeans for the various instrumentalities used in the design andconstruction of this particular tree easel. Therefore, this invention isnot to be limited to the exact disclosure and description exceptinginsofar as shall be determined by the breadth and scope of the appendedclaims directed to the salient features thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A tree easel comprising cooperative clamp members for surface contactwith the sides of a tree, tensioning means to urge said clamp membersinto frictional contact with the adjacent surfaces of said tree toprevent vertical displacement of said members, and stabilizing meansconnected with said members and adapted for contacting other points onthe surface of said tree to prevent rocking of said clamp members attheir frictional contact points on said tree and to counteract girthdisplacement of said members relative to said tree, said clamp memberscomprising spaced elongated supports to carry a general utility tabletop to one side of said tree, and adjustable clips carried by said clampmembers to provide stops to hold said table top in usable position uponsaid supporting clamp members.

2. A tree easel comprising a pair of rods, connecting means for saidrods, braces connected with said rods, said robs being adapted tostraddle a tree and to project outwardly therefrom, said connectingmeans being arranged for connection between said rods at opposite sidesof the tree to tension the rods for frictional contact against the sidesof said tree, and said braces including slidable means mounted formovement along said rods to position the adjacent ends of said braces inselected positions along said rods, and said braces providing means toengage said tree to rigidly support and hold the outwardly projectingends of said rods in fixed relation with respect to said tree and remotetherefrom.

HAROLD L. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 882,850 Troell Mar. 24, 19081,098,945 Frederick June 2, 1914 1,206,574 Miller Nov. 28, 19161,237,428 Watrous Aug. 21, 1917

